WEC 43 Preview

Raphael Assuncao vs. Yves Jabouin

The Breakdown: One of the world’s best featherweights takes on a guy who will soon have the honor of tapping out to one of the world’s best featherweights. Anti-climactic doesn’t even begin to describe the idea of Assuncao fighting Jabouin, who is simply not built to do anything that Assuncao should be worried about. Some may point to Jabouin’s excellent striking, but Assuncao isn’t the type to waste time on the feet. He will get right in Jabouin’s grill and force him to stuff takedown after takedown if he wants to spend more than a few seconds upright.

The X Factor: Credit where credit is due: Jabouin has a nasty striking arsenal. If Assuncao decides it’s time to test his stand-up, he might end up looking like someone in severe need of facial reconstruction. There’s no reason to believe Assuncao will take that route considering his by-the-book jiu-jitsu game, but if Jabouin can get to his chin before he hits the mat, this fight won’t be the soft touch that many are predicting. It all comes down to Jabouin and his ability, or lack thereof, to force Assuncao out of his usual takedown-tapout routine.

The Bottom Line: While the visual of Jabouin crunching Assuncao’s dome with an axe kick is second only to the prospect of Karimula Barkalaev returning from hiding, neither is going to happen in our lifetimes. An early takedown by Assuncao will lead to where it normally leads: his opponent realizing the only way out is the lonely solace of a tapout. Hopefully, the future holds something a bit more challenging for Assuncao, who should be taking on the division’s leading lights instead of fighters straddling the line between the B and C list.